Venezuela releases former general-turned-Chavez critic: Lawyer

A former Venezuelan defense minister and ally-turned-critic of the late president Hugo Chavez has been released on parole after spending more than six years in prison on corruption charges, his lawyer said Thursday.

Raul Isaias Baduel, who was instrumental in restoring Chavez to power after an attempted coup in 2002, was released Wednesday night from the Ramo Verde military prison, his lawyer told AFP.